Drop-bottom mine car



' April 25, 1944. H. H. PANcAKE DROP BOTTOM MINE CAR Filed April 9, 1940 4 SheetS-Sheet l Herman INVENTOR Pancale l BY a ATTORNEY April 25, 1944 H. H. PANCAKE pRoP BoTTM MINE CAR FiledApril 9, 1940 4 SheetsSheet 2 O m .1 5 m m f..

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l H m April 25, 1944. H H, PANCAKE 2,347,277

DROP BOTTOM MI-NE CAR Filed April 9, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 #Hmm/a April 25, 1944. H. H. PANCAKE D RoP BOTTOM MINE CAR Filed April 9, 1940" 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 25, 1944 9 n Y.2,347,277 DROP-BOTTOM MINE CAR Herman H.

Pancake, Berwick, Pa., assiginor` to American Car and lFoundry Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New J ersey Application April 9, 1940, Serial No. 328,667

12 Claims.

This invention relates to mine or other industrial cars in general and in particular to such cars as are provided with drop bottom doors for complete discharge of the lading.

Mine cars of the drop bottom type have been built for a number of years and the bulk of these cars has been built with the doors inter-related in such a manner that a single latch was used which released one door with the subsequent automatic release of the other doors. The majority of the cars have released the rearmost door first, after which the doors were released in sequence from rear to front of the car, with the result that `the lading dropped through the leading or number one door was badly broken due to the excessive drop from the car to the bottom of the pit or bin. In recent years certain cars of the inter-related door type have been built in which the doors are released at the rear of the car but can not drop until the car reaches the pit, with the result that the doors will discharge from the front to the rear of the car. All such cars necessarily require an opening of the doors with an extremely small movement of the adjacent door. In any case and irrespective of the type of door controlling means, accidental release of one of the doors frequently causes complete release of all of the doors, resulting in tying up a track in the mine or in the hallways adjacent thereto. It is an object, therefore, of the present invention to provide a mine car with a plurality of drop bottom doors wholly independent of each other and individually controlled.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a mine or other car of the drop bottom type in which any door if accidentally released can not cause release of any of the other doors.

IA still. further object of the invention is the provision of a mine or other car having a plurality of drop bottom doors each controlled by a new and improved type of transversely extending latch.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art from a study of the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side view of substantially the rear half of the improved car;

Fig. 2 is a side view of substantially the forward half of the away to better disclose the latch construction and housing;

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of substantially the rear half of the car;

Fig. 4 is an inverted the forward end of the car;

improved car with parts broken plan view of a portion of Fig. 5 is a partial end view and partial sectional view of the car taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Fig. 6 is an end view of the rear end of the car;

Fig. 'I is a partial perspective View of the improved sill member used in constructing the car;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 5 but showing a slightly modified form of latch control, and

Fig. 9 is a sectional View line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the car isucarried on four wheels W through the medium of axles 2 and boxes 4 riveted taken substantially on f or otherwise secured to spaced portions of the side sills 6. The side sills, as clearly shown', are formed by unequal leg. angles having the short ange 8 thereof turned outwardly and portions of the upstanding leg inclined outwardly and Aupwardly as at I0 between the wheels and between the wheels and the ends of the car. The ends of the side sills are connected together by any suitable end structures but in the present instance the end structure I2 at the rear oi the car carries wood bumper cushions I4 protected by a bumper cap I5, while the forward end structure I6 is of the pointed spring bumper and spring draw bar type in which both the bufng and pulling strains are cushioned by springs I1. End walls I8 are secured to the end structure and braced thereto by gussets or other means 20 and these end walls extend outwardly beyond the side sills of the car and are connected to the ends of the side walls 22. These side walls, as clearly shown, have their lower edge secured to the side sills and the bulk of the sheet inclines upwardly and outwardly at an angle suflicient to secure complete discharge of the lading between the sills. The extent of these sloping portions is, of course, determined by mine clearances and by the desired capacity as is also the vertical portion 26 of the side sheets. Sincethe plane of side or slope sheets intersects the wheels, it is necessary that portions thereof be cut out as at 28 to be later covered by wheel hoods 30.. As clearly shown in Figs. l, 3 and 5, these wheel hoods are triangular in form regardless of the direction in which they are viewed and are formed by inclined side walls 3l and inner end wall 32, each oi which is provided with a flange 34 by means of which the hood may be attached to the slope sheets and to the side sill. As is customary, the slope sheets are braced by means of side gussets 36 fastened to the slope sheets and to the side sills .and thereby assist the ends in preventing drooping of the slope sheets.-

As clearly shown in the drawings, the car is provided with three doors, A, B and C, occupying respectively forward, intermediate and rear positions in the car. Each of these doors is hinged on hinge rods 38 carried by the side sills and extending completely across the car to support the forward edge of the door which has its forward edge rolled as at 39 to receive the hinge rods. Each door is formed of general pan shape with side anges l) and an upwardly curved .rear or trailing edge `Ill to which latch lug 42 may be attached, preferably adjacent the longitudinal cenused wherever it was possible to do so. In this form, however, the latches 60 are directly pivoted to the .brace housing by pins 62 and have connected thereto a pull link 64. The outer end of the pull link is pivotally connected as at `65 to the down-turned end of a latch control bar 58 pivotally mounted in the brace member by means of pivot pin lil, As in the previously described form, the latch control bar extends outwardly over the wheel in order to be operated by a track side ramp and will operate exactly as the latches ter of the door. The central portion of the doorsr 5 maybe strengthened in any suitable manner; such as angles 113. As clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the doors have their adjacent edges spaced apart a considerable distance and arempjositionefd on eitherside of the axle. The space'between the doors is electively closed by means of; :a combined closure, brace and axle hood formed with downwardly diverging portions 44 joined together by an elongated invertedl U-shaped section 55` The ends of this brace and housing member are welded or otherwise secured to the side sills and to the inner vwall of the wheel hoods, while the central portions of the inclined sides fill are electively braced by means of angle tie 5l (Figs. 2 and). l

v vThe latches 46 for the front and intermediate doors are hung in the brace member by means of abolt or pin 47 extending through the inner end of a pipe latch control member d8 which is securely welded or otherwise secured to the latch, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and '5. As is clearly shown in Fig. 2, each of these llatches has the hookportion 4 9 oiset laterally with respect to the plane of the. latchcontrol bar in order to clear the axle and is formed with a pad 5i) bearing against the axle to absorb the eccentric loading imposed on the latch. Each of the latch bars, as clearly shown in Figs. l, 3 and 5, extends longitudinally ofvthe brace memberthrough a slot 52 cut in the inner wall of lthe wheel-hood and terminates outwardly of the wheels. The portion .of the latch control bar vdisposed above the wheel is oiset and will be prevented from riding on or contacting the wheel by means of small bearing plates'53 welded or otherwise secured to the wheel hood Vend wall adjacent the lower end of the slot, whilel side .thrusts on the latch operating bar will be absorbed by braces 54 welded .or otherwise secured to the sidesV of the wheel hoods and dening a vertical guide. Thus it will be seen that the latches for the front and intermediate doors are wholly independent of each other and `extend transversely Yof .the car and are located wholly within the bracing member and Wheel hood with only a short portion projectingr through the car slope sheet -to Contact the tripping ramps (not shown). The latch 56 for the vre'are'dge oi the rear door is similar to the latches 'for the iront and intermediate vdoorslou't is sullported upon a bracket 51' carried by the end wall or end structure of the car and is spring urged by means of spring 58 toward door `engaging position, lthi's spring being necessary to'insure latching and to Vprevent 'accidental release ofthe door by track side obstacles striking the releasing handle 5s. It is, p'f course, obvious that if it is found necessary, springs 'may also be used to urge the latches for the front and intermediate doors toward latching position.

Referring now to Figs'S and 9, it will be seen that in'general the car is of substantially identical construction with that J'ustdescribed and accordingly the same reference numerals have been f eect release of the other doors.

of the form shown in Figs. 1 to 6. However, the provisionV of the connecting link and modied latch control handle will permit of latch release with a smaller amount of movement or lift of the latch control handle than is possible with the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5.

In `Tooth` forms disclosed, the latches for the front andintermediate doors have been oiset in order that the latch control bar may extend through the slope sheetdirectly above the axle and beneath the highest point of the wheel hood in order that maximum capacity may be obtained in the car. It is obvious, howeventhat if de'- sired the latches may be made straight with the brace member shifted slightly and with the Wheel hood widened or redesigned to permit movement of the latch Control bar. It will also be .obvious that if more than three doors are desi-red, then certain -of the latches and latch `control members may be located at positions in the car otherthan at the wheels and axles.

It will be obvious thatwith the improved car accidental release of any door can .not yin any way It Will further be obvious that the improved car can operate in train with present types of cars and without requiring remodeling of bins or other track side equipment. Also it will be obvious thatthe car in moving past the tripping ramp will release its doors from front to rear of the car, therebyzinsuring minimum breakage as the coal or other lading is dumped.

While the invention has been described more or less .in detail, it will be obvious topersons skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of parts other than those Vshown and described may be made and all Vsuch modications and rearrangements of parts are contemplated as will fall within the scope of the appended claims dening my invention:

What is claimed is:

1. In a drop bottom car the combination ofl a frame, end sheets and slope sheets secured to the frame, wheels and axles supporting the frame, a plurality of dumping doors closing the bottom of the car between the vertical longitudinal planes through the wheels, a latch foreach door pivotally connected to the car to swing in a plane transversely of the car, and independent operating means for each latch extending transversely of the car through a slope sheet intermediate the end sheets and terminating in an end portion located beneath the slope sheet and outwardllr of the vertical longitudinal plane through the adjacent wheels.

2. In a drop bottom car the Vcombination of, a frame, end sheets and slope sheets secured to the frame, wheels and axles supporting the frame, ffront, intermediate and rear doors closing the bottom ofthe car, latches forzsaid `frontend intermediate doors pivotally connected to the car, and latch operating Vmeans for each latch nextending transversely of the car and through'a tslope sheet, said operating means having' portions located substantially'above the horizontal plane through the tops of the wheels at the adjacent side of the car and terminating in an end portion located beneath the slopesheet and outwardly ofthe vertical longitudinal plane through the adjacent wheels. i .1'

3.A In a drop bottom car the combination of,l a frame, end sheets and slope sheets secured tothe frame,`wheels andaxl'es supporting the frame, front, intermediate and rear doors closing the bottom of the car', latches pivotally connected to the car adjacent the rear edge of each door, and independent latch operating means for each door latch extending transversely of the car, said operating means for the front and intermediate door latches each extending through a slope sheet above the adjacent wheel and terminating in an operating end portion located beneath the adjacent slope sheets.

4. In a drop bottom car the combination of a supporting frame, end sheets and slope sheets secured to the frame, wheels and axles supporting the frame with the upper edge of said wheels located in openings in said slope sheets, wheel hoods covering said openings, front, intermediate and rear drop doors closing the bottom of the car and having their adjacent edges spaced apart, brace means secured to the frame and wheel hoods and covering the spaces between the doors, latch means for said front and intermediate doors pivotally mounted within said brace means, and latch operating means extending laterally from the latch means through a wheel hood and slope sheet above the adjacent wheel and terminating in an operating end portion located beneath the adjacent slope sheets.

5. In a drop bottom car the combination of a supporting frame, end sheets and slope sheets secured to the frame, wheels and axles supporting the frame With the upper edge of said wheels located in openings in said slope sheets, wheel hoods covering said openings, front, intermediate and rear drop doors closing the bottom of the car and having their adjacent edges spaced apart, inverted U shaped brace means secured to the wheel hoods and covering the spaces between the doors, latch means for said front and intermediate doors pivotally mounted within said brace means, and operating means for said latch means secured thereto and extending transversely of the car within said inverted U-shaped brace means, said operating means extending through the adjacent wheel hood and slope sheet above the adjacent wheel and terminating in an operating end portion located beneath the adjacent slope sheets.

6. In a drop bottom car the combination of a supporting frame, end sheets and slope sheets secured to the frame, wheels and axles supporting the frame with the upper edge of said wheels located in openings in said slope sheets, wheel hoods covering said openings, front, intermediate and rear drop doors closing the bottom oi the car and having their adjacent edges spaced apart, inverted U-shaped brace means secured to the wheel hoods and covering the spaces between the doors, latch means for said iront and intermediate doors pivotally mounted within said brace means, and operating means for said latch means secured thereto and extending transversely of the car within said inverted U-shaped brace means, said operating means extending through a slot in the inner wall of the adjacent wheel hood and above the adjacent wheel and terminating beneath the slope sheets.

'7. In a drop bottom car the combination of a supporting frame,\end sheets and slope sheets securedto the frame, wheels and axles supporting the frame with the upper edge of said wheels located in openingsin said slope sheets,'wheel hoods covering said '.openings, front, intermediate and rear drop doors closing the bottom of the car and having their adjacent edges spaced apart,"in`verted U-shaped` brace means secured to the wheel `hoods and covering the spaces between thedoors, latch means for said front' and intermediate doors pivotally mounted within said brace means, and operating means for said latch means secured thereto and extending transversely of the car within said inverted U-shaped brace means, said operating means extending through a slot in the inner wall of the adjacent wheel hood and above the adjacent wheel and terminating beneath the slope sheets, and means secured to said adjacent wheel hood outwardly of the wheel and forming a guide for the outer end of said operating means.

8. In a drop bottom car supported on wheels, I

a plurality of dumping doors located between the vertical longitudinal planes passing through the wheels at each side of the car, an independent latch for each door pivotally connected to the car to swing transversely thereof, and independent operating means for each latch, certain of said operating means extending laterally and outwardly past the adjacent wheel and being located substantially in the vertical transverse central plane of the wheel.

9. In a drop bottom car supported on wheels, a plurality of dumping doors located between the vertical longitudinal planes passing through the wheels at each side of the car, an independent latch for each door pivotally connected to the car to swing transversely thereof, and independent operating means for each latch, certain of said operating means extending outwardly of the adjacent wheel and being located substantially in the vertical transverse central plane of the wheel, and certain of said latches being laterally offset to support the associated door at a point laterally offset from said plane.

10. In a drop bottom car the combination of a supporting frame, end sheets and slope sheets secured tothe frame, wheels and axles supporting the frame with the upper edge of said wheels located in openings in said slope sheets, wheel hoods covering said openings, front, intermediate and rear drop doors closing the bottom of the car and having their adjacent edges spaced apart and on opposite sides of an axle, combined brace means and axle hoods secured to the wheel hoods and covering the axles and spaces between adjacent doors, latch means for said front and intermediate doors pivotally mounted within said brace means at a point in a vertical plane through the axle, said latch means being offset laterally to clear said axle and engage its associated door in the horizontal plane of the axle, and latch operating means located in said vertical plane of the axle and extending laterally of the car above the adjacent wheel.

11. In a drop bottom mine car supported on wheels and including side walls, end walls, and hinged drop doors forming a car bottom, said drop doors being hingedly mounted transversely of the car structure and having their adjacent edges spaced apart, brace means for said car forming coverings for the spaces between the doors, latch means for certain of said doors carried by said brace means and engaging the doors shaped brace means for said car forming coverings for the spaces between the doors, latch means for certain of said doors carried by said brace means and engaging the doors last referred to adjacent their free edges, and means for individually operating each latch means, said means extending transversely of the car body substantially in the transverse plane of the Wheels and to a position adjacent said side Walls and above 1g said Wheels.

HERMAN H. PANCAKE. 

